Melanie Sykes:'The media only upsets me when it interferes with my children'

MELANIE SYKES is back to put a smile on your face, with a new series of Let’s Do Lunch...

Melanie Sykes is back to put a smile on your face, with a new series of Let’s Do Lunch... [GETTY]

With a figure that would make many women half her age envious, it’s perhaps surprising that Melanie Sykes considers herself to be a foodie. But the former model, who first found fame in the mid-1990s as the face of Boddingtons beer, is adamant that cooking is one of her greatest passions, which is why she was so drawn to presenting Let’s Do Lunch With Gino & Mel.

“I’ve been travelling the world since I was 18, so I’ve always loved trying new cuisine,” says 43-year-old Mel. “It was my love of good food and eating nice meals that made this show really attractive to me. I really enjoy tucking into the food on the show.”

It would be nice to have Bradley Cooper in the Let’s Do Lunch kitchen. We could do with more eye candy on the show

Melanie Sykes

Filmed live and in front of a studio audience, Let’s Do Lunch sees chef Gino D’Acampo rustle up tasty dishes while Mel chats to celebrity guests. Now in its fourth year, it seems the show’s combination of cooking and entertainment has proved a recipe for success.

“The show has done really well. We’re on our fourth series now, so I’m really proud of it,” Mel smiles. “And Gino’s wicked to work with, too. I love him. We have a great time in the studio.

“I think that’s why Let’s Do Lunch is popular, because it makes people smile and that’s what you want, isn’t it? To be able to sit down at lunchtime to a bit of telly that gives you a great big grin on your face as you eat your sandwich and take a break from whatever you are doing.”

When asked who her ideal celebrity guest would be, Mel reveals she has her sights set on a Hollywood heart-throb.

“It would be nice to have Bradley Cooper in the Let’s Do Lunch kitchen. We could do with more eye candy on the show,” she laughs. “But I haven’t had a favourite guest. It’s just nice when you have guests who get what the show is about and come on to have a laugh. So people like Alan Carr are always good fun, or Peter Andre, who’s always up for anything.”

Mel, who has also hosted Today With Des And Mel, The Big Breakfast and The Paul O’Grady Show, juggles her work commitments with being a mum to Roman, 12, and Valentino, 10 on Monday.

“I have a great support network to help out when I am working on Let’s Do Lunch over the summer,” Mel admits. “The boys’ dad (ex-husband Daniel Caltagirone) obviously looks after them, and I have a housekeeper, who also helps me out. I’ve been working ever since the boys were born so I’ve got our routine down pat now. But the boys and I will go away for a holiday at some point over the summer, too.”

The Lancashire-born presenter also makes time for plenty of exercise. As well as her presenting career, Mel has become known for her amazing physique and active lifestyle. She feels more body-confident than ever and stripped off to model for underwear brand Ultimo late last year.

Catch Let’s Do Lunch With Gino & Mel on weekdays [PH]

“I didn’t start training and going to the gym until I was 37 but now I’m fitter than I’ve ever been. I’ve always been pretty slim, but now I’m more toned and athletic-looking,” she says.

So, what words of advice does she have for readers hoping to get bikini-ready for their summer holidays?

“It’s really simple. For me, it’s about having a low-carb diet, doing loads of exercise and cutting down on booze. It sounds boring, but unfortunately that’s the key. If you do it, you’ll get results – it’s as simple as that.

“Keeping active is my lifestyle now, so there’s no ‘switching off’ for me. It’s just how I live. Even on holiday, I’ll exercise every day. I’ll either go swimming or go to the gym.”

As well as hitting the gym, Mel also has another, somewhat unusual, hobby that keeps her busy – clay-pigeon shooting.

“I absolutely love shooting and that satisfaction of hitting the clay. I hope to be competing with it soon, although I need to get a bit more practice in,” she says. “It’s when I’m at my most Zen-like and relaxed. I switch off and I’m not thinking about anything else. All I have to think about is hitting the targets. It’s therapeutic.”

And Mel has had plenty to think about in the past year.

The presenter saw her private life hit the headlines when she married builder Jack Cockings in May last year, following a whirlwind romance, only for the couple to separate seven months later.

Their relationship has been the topic of much speculation in the media, but how has Mel coped with the press attention during this difficult time?

“I’ve dealt with the media the same as I always have. I’ve been in the industry for 17 years now, so I know what it’s like.

“It’s just part and parcel of my job. I’m not motivated by the media and my life with my family and my friends is what really counts,” she says.

“The only time it really upsets me is if it interferes with my children’s lives. That’s when I go all mother hen and protective. But when it comes to me, I suppose it’s fair game because I’m in the public eye.”

As for her hopes for the future, Mel insists that she is now “very happy” with her life as it is.

“I go shooting, I go training, I go swimming, I go to the theatre, I go to the cinema and I’ve just got into golf too,” she says. “I’ve got a very full life.

“I love keeping busy and doing all these things keeps me energised. So, for the future, I just want more of what’s happening now. I’m very happy. I’m spending lots of time with my kids and my friends. I have a really healthy, positive life, so I just want that to continue.